YA Romance

It’s spring here in the Northern Hemisphere. The weather is warmer, plants are blooming, my bones have stopped aching from the cold. It is the perfect time for romance! If you aren’t interested in a relationship IRL, here are some YA romances for you to fall in love with.

Matched series by Ally Condie (started 2010)

Cassia lives in a world where romantic matches are made for each individual when they turn 17. She is matched to her best friend Xander but discovers that she was actually meant to be matched with Ky, a “aberration.” She investigates the society and whether their goals are all as pure as those in power say. The love triangle is engaging and the dystopian setting captures many things that sound good on paper and don’t work out in reality.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (2012)

Eleanor and Park are 10th graders in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1980s. Eleanor is bullied for her weight and clothing and lives with her mom, siblings, and an abusive step-father. Park is half-Korean, short, and into music and comics. The two meet on the school bus and slowly connect. A sweet love story.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han (started 2014)

Fake relationship trope mastery starts off this series by Han. Lara Jean writes letters to the boys she has crushes on — letters she never intends to send. When her sister sends them without telling Lara Jean, she has to scramble to explain when the boys respond. To one of the boys, she says she already has a boyfriend, Peter (who had also received a letter). In order to cover her tracks, she persuades Peter to pretend to be her boyfriend. He has just broken up with a long-time girlfriend and sees benefits to this arrangement. Let the hijinks and swooning begin!

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (2016)

This love story between Natasha and Daniel is told in alternating points of view. Natasha is focused on preventing her family from being deported to Jamaica. Daniel has been the good son but can’t bear to ignore his poetic soul any longer. When the two meet in NYC, their lives become entwined.

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (2017)

Told in alternating perspectives, this YA romance follows two teens with opposing attitudes toward arranged marriage. Rishi embraces the tradition and can’t wait to meet his intended bride, Dimple. Dimple believes that it’s more important to focus on her career goals of being a web developer. But when the two meet at camp, their relationship surprises both of them.

The Kindred by Alechia Dow (2022)

Joy and Felix have been connected psychically to each other since birth. Each person in their world has a “kindred” connection to promote equality and empathy. Felix is a royal, and Joy and her mother struggle to make do. They’ve never met in person but they can read each other’s thoughts. When an attack on the royal family throws Felix’s world into disarray, he goes to rescue Joy and escape his pursuers. The two end up landing on Earth, where they struggle to fit in and make a plan to return to safety, all while being thrilled to finally be with each other.

Outlaw Saints series by Daniel José Older (started in 2022)

This duology, the first YA books in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, is set in a diaspora community of pirates, Sephardic Jews, and Cuban Santeros that escaped the sinking island of San Madigral over a decade ago. Mateo dreams of becoming a musician and hopes to catch the eye of a pro on the night of the Grand Fete. When he witnesses a murder, he become enmeshed in a ancient battle and awakens a force within him. His relationship with the daughter of the head rabbi causes sparks throughout the pair of books.

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao (2024)

Gemma’s mom lied to her, saying that her grandfather had died years ago. But when he actually dies and leaves an inheritance for Gemma, in the form of a treasure hunt, she goes to Taiwan to follow the clues. The trip she is on is for Taiwanese-American teens to find their roots, and the leader of the trip is her enemy and ex Xander. Enemies to lovers fun with puzzles along the way.